What are tektites?
Tektites are natural glass objects primarily composed of silica. Tektites found on Earth are formed by large asteroidal or cometary impact with the Earth. Energy from the impact melts terrestrial rock and ejects it into the upper reaches of the atmosphere. A few minutes later tektites rain down. The final morphologies are largely dependent on the distance from the source crater and the degree of terrestrial weathering/etching.
How do they form?
1) A large comet or asteroid impacts the Earth where the bedrock is a silica-rich sediment or meta-sediment (this is why not all impacts produce tektites).
2. Terrestrial (Earth) rock is melted and ejected into the upper atmosphere at hyper-velocities. As it passes through the atmosphere the molten blob is flattened to varying degrees by atmospheric interaction (primarily dependent on height of formation, angle of ejection and velocity of the body).
3. Tektites are continually cooling whilst in space. Most will re-enter as cool bodies, some larger or more proximal tektites retain some heat.
What is Moldavite?
Moldavite is a type of tektite, a natural glass formed from the heat and pressure of a meteorite impact. What makes moldavite so special is its deep, olive-green color and the intricate, natural patterns that are unique to each stone. Moldavite can be translucent with beautiful internal structures that shimmer when held up to the light, making it an exceptional choice for jewelry.
Unlike other gemstones that form deep within the Earth over millions of years, moldavite’s creation is quite different. Around 15 million years ago, a massive meteorite struck what is now central Europe, specifically in an area known as the Ries Crater in southern Germany. The intense heat and pressure from the impact melted the Earth's surface materials and the meteorite itself, which were then thrown high into the atmosphere. As this molten material cooled, it rained down over a wide area, solidifying into moldavite. Today, this precious gemstone is found almost exclusively in the Czech Republic, particularly in Český Krumlov.
